So here we are, October. Every warm day we get is an unexpected bonus. The leaves have begun to turn, the breeze sprints instead of dawdling, and you hear the steps of winter’s boots in the gravel, approaching. A time for us to chase down the last rays of summer sun, like a straw chasing the last sip of some sumptuous beverage left in the bottom of a glass. Sip…siiiip…and the last trickle delightfully slides down your throat.

2012 has been such a lovely year. We’ve made good friends, read good books. And it’s not over yet! But the days of balmy afternoons on green grasses are at an end. Adieu, mercury straining toward the triple digits! Bonjour, warm socks and sweaters. But before we go, let us display our customary defiance to custom with some photos of our final day in the sun, at lunchtime in the middle of midtown Manhattan’s most crowded little oasis, Bryant Park.

Yes and no. On one hand, we’ve never been uncomfortable about what we were doing in the sense that we know it’s legal and we know we’re not doing anything wrong, bad, or inappropriate. In fact, it’s all about being MORE comfortable–nothing comfortable about sweating into a bra and a shirt when it’s close to 100 degrees out and men are walking around topless. And we certainly were comfortable in Bryant Park in the sense that it was the middle of the day with lots of people around, no worry that we’d be accosted or have some bad encounter, not in full view of hundreds of people.

But having hundreds of people around also means, inevitably, that you have some awkward souls, who (as you can see in some of the photos) think it’s completely fine to sit literally inches away, and hold up a cell phone to snap surreptitious photos. Yes, we’re in public–look all you want, even snap a photo if you want, but…inches? I mean, literally, inches? In one case so close that one of us who’d bent her legs couldn’t straighten them again without kicking the guy…? And pretending not to be looking while aiming a cell phone at us? Do you really think you’re getting away with something? Or the guys who set up folding chairs in a semi-circle around us, facing in, like we were some sort of performance and they were the audience? Is that something you normally do to random strangers in a park?

As always, most people were totally cool, and even the ones who weren’t, well, they have every right to to be uncool in their own somewhat pathetic, akward way (just as we have every right to do what we were doing–New York tolerates all sorts of out-of-the-norm behaviors, and it’s a better place for it). But did it make us more comfortable, being out in front of that number of people?

The way I see it, those guys are too deprived. It’s like they’ve never seen a topless woman in the flesh before. For them, this might be the one and only chance in their lifetime to see some beautiful topless ladies out in the open. Have pity on them even though they’re pathetic. Maybe they weren’t breastfed enough as babies or something. But seriously, I think one way to defend against this kind of intrusively annoying behavior is to go on the offensive. Start snapping pictures of yourselves and point the camera in their direction. Better yet, start filming and perhaps even reach out to them and interview them. Ask them their names and their profession. And tell them you’re gonna put this on the internet for a research project. Imagine their reaction. Haha…. I mean, if they’re secretly taking a picture of you girls and then maybe upload it god knows where, then you can let them know that you can do that to them too. Another solution to cope with uncool guys might be to educate them. Again, they’re getting too close to your personal space. Just talk to them and offer them a piece of chocolate or cookie. Then tell them to go buy a bag of potato chips or a Coke for you. Send them on this mission and off they go. In the meantime, you can look after their folding chairs and move them farther away. When they come back, have a more serious chat with them and tell them to respect your personal space and not to sit too close. This solution might sound too idealistic. But I believe most guys get embarrassed easily, especially the deprived ones. As a last resort, if none of the above works, then just get up, take your stuff and re-locate. Move to a better spot. To sum up, I’m truly impressed by you ladies’ courage. Your free spirit will spread around and touch more and more people. It takes time for attitudes and values to change. Society and the public will move forward eventually. More education and more patience will help the cause advance faster.

As a guy it’s embarassing how incredably stupid guys can be. These guys will never understand your cause or freedom. As nudist we have faced similar situations in clothes optional settings. Always someone there claiming to be a nudist but they are never bare, go figure ! Plus it should be common courtesy to ask permission for a pic being taken. As nudist we give that respect to each other.

I must confess: Leopard-Print Lady has caught my eye. The pants match well to her body art.

Anyway, thanks for another season (maybe even a double-season) of lovely pictures. And when the mercury reaches, on those rare occasions, 60 on some winter days, maybe a few brave souls shall likewise enjoy those days outside and topless.

Hi, I’m the owner of http://DOMAI.com which some of you may know. One of my members sent a link to this blog.
It’s excellent. Good job, ladies! For serious.
My site has always been agitating for free nudity, there are many, many stories in the newsletter archives about people discovering the joys of that.

For next year, do you ladies plan to expand your society and establish local chapters in different cities? I think you can take this thing global. With the internet and social networking tools, you can spread this movement to many other places and free many of your fellow sisters who are like-minded to the joy of being outdoors topless to enjoy the sun, a good read, and some R & R. Here in Canada, Toronto and Vancouver would be two perfect cities for your society to expand into. Other locations in the US where toplessness is legal are also suitable. Then, if you look across the pond, the whole of Europe is just so totally ready for this. Not to mention Australia and New Zealand as well. So the potential to connect with more women around world is just unlimited. What do you ladies think?

PS Btw, hope none of you were personally affected by the Superstorm. Best of luck to a safe winter season. Take good care and I, along with so many of your fans and readers, look forward to sharing more of your outdoor adventures next year.